Describe a need that you have observed in one or more of your high ability students. What evidence do you have that this need exists? What actions are you considering to address this need?
The need that I have observed most frequently with my high ability students is their need to know more. The students who do well in class frequently ask question after question about each topic. The trouble is that their questions require explanations that are usually very scientific and bring up additional topics that aren't covered in eight grade science. Since science is all about asking questions this is a truly wonderful need, however, when I provide answers to some of these questions the lower ability students begin to get intimidated. Even if I tell them that they will not be tested on these additional facts, damage has been done. These students tend to only understand a portion of what I say and then they wrongly apply these concepts and ideas to the simpler concept or idea that I was originally addressing.
Since I do not want to limit the high achieving students, I think that this need could be met by asking the students to come to me at the end of or after class to ask questions that need a more thorough explanation.
Describe a need that you have observed in one or more of your medium ability students. What evidence do you have that this need exists? What actions are you considering to address this need?
I think the stongest need of the medium ability students is their lack of focus. The medium ability or average eight grader can't help but socialize non stop with his/her peers. Every time we do an activity the students appear to "chat" more than work. To help address this need, it is important to have the students work on more than one activity each class period so that they can change their focus a little bit every 30 minutes or so. By using group work the students are given the opportunity to socialize, I just need to find a way to make sure they complete their work as well. So far I have seen that continually walking by each group helps get them back on task for atleast a minute or two.
Describe a need that you have observed in one or more of your low ability students. What evidence do you have that this need exists? What actions are you considering to address this need?
The most common need that I have observed in the low ability students is their lack of motivation. These students never volunteer to read aloud or answer questions. They also tend not to work on their assignments during class (even after I talk to them about it or offer my help). Finally, the quality of their work is usually poor. I am not quite sure how to address this problem. Every solution that I have thought of wouldn't be appropriate. For example, I don't want to just call on one of these students to answer a question because if they don't know the answer they could get embarrassed and be even more discouraged in the future. If I call on them to read they may also be embarrassed because they may not read as well or as fast as their classmates. If I gave them the opportunity to resubmit work that was of poor quality, I am no longer being fair to all of my students and they might not do it anyway. I'll have to keep on the search for a working solution.
Addressing Student Needs
Describe a need that you have observed in one or more of your high ability students. What evidence do you have that this need exists? What actions are you considering to address this need?
The need that I have observed most frequently with my high ability students is their need to know more. The students who do well in class frequently ask question after question about each topic. The trouble is that their questions require explanations that are usually very scientific and bring up additional topics that aren't covered in eight grade science. Since science is all about asking questions this is a truly wonderful need, however, when I provide answers to some of these questions the lower ability students begin to get intimidated. Even if I tell them that they will not be tested on these additional facts, damage has been done. These students tend to only understand a portion of what I say and then they wrongly apply these concepts and ideas to the simpler concept or idea that I was originally addressing.Since I do not want to limit the high achieving students, I think that this need could be met by asking the students to come to me at the end of or after class to ask questions that need a more thorough explanation.
Describe a need that you have observed in one or more of your medium ability students. What evidence do you have that this need exists? What actions are you considering to address this need?
I think the stongest need of the medium ability students is their lack of focus. The medium ability or average eight grader can't help but socialize non stop with his/her peers. Every time we do an activity the students appear to "chat" more than work. To help address this need, it is important to have the students work on more than one activity each class period so that they can change their focus a little bit every 30 minutes or so. By using group work the students are given the opportunity to socialize, I just need to find a way to make sure they complete their work as well. So far I have seen that continually walking by each group helps get them back on task for atleast a minute or two.Describe a need that you have observed in one or more of your low ability students. What evidence do you have that this need exists? What actions are you considering to address this need?
The most common need that I have observed in the low ability students is their lack of motivation. These students never volunteer to read aloud or answer questions. They also tend not to work on their assignments during class (even after I talk to them about it or offer my help). Finally, the quality of their work is usually poor. I am not quite sure how to address this problem. Every solution that I have thought of wouldn't be appropriate. For example, I don't want to just call on one of these students to answer a question because if they don't know the answer they could get embarrassed and be even more discouraged in the future. If I call on them to read they may also be embarrassed because they may not read as well or as fast as their classmates. If I gave them the opportunity to resubmit work that was of poor quality, I am no longer being fair to all of my students and they might not do it anyway. I'll have to keep on the search for a working solution.